Automation device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an automation device, with which a multiplicity of physically distributed functional units communicate with each other by means of a common transmission protocol. The device has a microcontroller ( 110 ), which is assigned at least one clock generator ( 120 ) and one memory unit ( 150 ), and which is connected at least to one data source ( 140 ), which is designed to output a data bit-stream to be transmitted. A sequential sequence of equidistant samples of a trapezoidal time profile is stored in the memory unit ( 150 ), such that it can be called up, in such a manner that the samples can be output either using the clock of the first clock generator or using the clock of the second clock generator, depending on the data bit-stream.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from German Application DE 10 2005 043 419.3 filed on Sep. 13, 2005 the contents of which are relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, and the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an automation device, with which a multiplicity of physically distributed functional units communicate with each other by means of a common transmission protocol. These functional units manifest themselves as field devices or operator units according to their automation function.

For some time now it has been common practice in instrumentation and control engineering to use a two-wire line to supply a field device and to transfer measurements from this field device to a display device and/or to an automation control system, or transfer control values from an automation control system to the field device. Each measurement or control value is converted into a proportional DC current, which is superimposed on the DC supply current, where the DC current representing the measurement or control value can be a multiple of the DC supply current. Thus the supply current consumption of the field device is usually set to approximately 4 mA, and the dynamic range of the measurement or control value is mapped onto currents between 0 and 16 mA, so that the known 4 to 20 mA current loop can be used.

More recent field devices also feature universal properties that are largely adaptable to the given process. For this purpose, an AC transmission path capable of bi-directional operation is provided in parallel with the unidirectional DC transmission path, via which parameterization data are transferred in the direction to the field device and measurements and status data are transferred from the direction of the field device. The parameterization data and the measurements and status data are modulated on an AC voltage, preferably frequency modulated.

In process control engineering, it is common in the field area as it is called, to arrange and link field devices, i.e. measurement, control and display modules, locally according to the specified safety requirements. These field devices have analog and digital interfaces for data transfer between them, where data transfer takes place via the supply lines of the power supply arranged in the control area. Operator units are also provided in the control area, as it is called, for controlling and diagnosing these field devices remotely, where lower safety requirements normally apply.

Data transfer between the operator units in the control area and the field devices is implemented using FSK modulation (Frequency Shift Keying) superimposed on the known 20 mA current loops, where two frequencies, assigned to the binary states “0” and “1”, are transferred in frames as analog signals.

The general conditions for the FSK signal and the type of modulation are specified in the “HART Physical Layer Specification Revision 7.1-Final” dated 20 Jun. 1990 (Rosemount Document no. D8900097; Revision B).

ASICs specifically developed to implement the FSK interface according to the HART protocol, such as the HT2012 from the SMAR company, are commercially available and in common use. The disadvantage with these special circuits is the permanently fixed range of functions and the associated lack of flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.

Known modern automation devices are usually equipped with a processing unit known as a microcontroller, which is used to perform the correct data processing for the automation task of the functional unit concerned.

The aim is to reproduce the functions of the FSK interface according to the HART protocol in the controller of the processing unit of the automation devices, without impairing in the process the automation task of the functional unit concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence the object of the invention is specifically to define an automation device having means for converting a data bit-stream into an FSK signal using a microcontroller known per se.

The invention is based on an automation device having a processing unit, which is assigned at least one memory unit for storing instructions and data. Connected to this processing unit is a digital-to-analog converter whose output is connected to a filter.

A table is stored in the memory unit. This table comprises a prescribable number of samples of a trapezoidal time profile.

FSK signal generation using a trapezoidal time profile of the samples advantageously manages with a lower resolution than that based on a sinusoidal time profile of the samples. The demands imposed on the digital-to-analog converter are thus reduced; rather, a simpler design suffices. In addition, fewer input/output lines of the processing unit are thus needed to output the samples, with the result that more input/output lines are available for other tasks, in particular automation tasks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment. In the drawing required for this,

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an automation device;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram for converting a data bit-stream into an FSK signal; and

FIG. 3 shows a trapezoidal time profile.

FIG. 1 shows schematically an automation device 100 to the extent necessary to understand the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The automation device 100 is connected via a communications line 200 to an automation device 100′ of substantially the same type. The communications line 200 is used bi-directionally. The information sent by the automation device 100 is received by the automation device 100′, and vice versa. Hence reference is only made below to the automation device 100 shown in detail.

A core component of the automation device 100 is a controller 110, which is connected at least to one memory unit 150 and one timing element, referred to below as a clock generator 120 for the sake of simplicity. Usually, however, parts of the clock generator 120 are already implemented in the controller 110.

The controller 110 has connections for connecting a data sink 130 and a data source 140.

A configurable and/or parameterizable sensor for converting a physical variable into an electrical variable can be provided as the data source 140, in which case the configuration and/or parameterization is the data sink 130.

In an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that the data sink 130 is an actuator for converting an electrical variable into a physical variable whose properties can be diagnosed. The diagnostic device provided for this purpose is then the data source 140.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the automation device 100 is part of a higher-level device designed for bi-directional communication with additional automation devices 100′. In this embodiment, the higher-level device is both the data source 140 and the data sink 130.

In a further embodiment, the automation device 100 can be designed as a “protocol converter”. In this embodiment, the data source 140 and the data sink 130 are formed by a second communications system.

To implement the invention, however, it is sufficient for the data source 140 to be present without the data sink 130.

In addition, connected to the controller 110 is a digital-to-analog converter 160 whose output is connected to a filter 170. The output of the filter 170 is connected to the communications line 200. In addition, the communications line 200 is taken to the input terminals of the controller 110, via which terminals it is provided that the line signal on the communications line 200 is received.

The method of operation of the invention will be explained in more detail below. To this end, FIG. 2, using the same references for the same means, schematically shows a schematic diagram for converting a data bit-stream into an FSK signal.

A table 151 having a prescribable number of samples of a trapezoidal time profile is stored in the memory 150. Specifically, provision is made to provide precisely 4 samples for the trapezoidal time profile. A trapezoidal time profile formed from 4 samples is shown in FIG. 3.

Depending on the data bit-stream of the transmission data 141 which are kept ready in the data source 140, the same samples are successively read from the table 151 and are output in a faster or slower manner in accordance with the data bit-stream. To this end, a first clock frequency is derived from a clock 121 using a first divider 112 and a second clock frequency which is different to the first clock frequency is derived using a second divider 113. The clock 121 is preferably provided by the clock generator 120 of the controller 110. The functions of the first and second dividers 112 and 113 are represented by the controller 110.

With 4 support points selected, it is possible, with sufficient reproducibility, to keep the phase error within the permissible limits irrespective of the changeover time.

Depending on the data bit-stream, the output clock for outputting the samples—symbolized by the switch 114—is changed over between the first clock frequency and the second clock frequency in order to output a logic one or in order to output a logic zero. The switch 114 is formed by a program function of the controller 110.

A digital-to-analog converter 160 is used to convert the samples into an analog, largely sinusoidal signal whose curve shape is optimized in the downstream filter 170. The filter 170 is in the form of a second-order low-pass filter. The FSK signal 201 can be tapped off at the output of the filter 170.

The phase error advantageously remains small on account of the change in frequency from one sample to the immediately following sample.

In a special refinement of the invention, the digital-to-analog converter 160 is of the switched type of pulse-width-modulated digital-to-analog converters. To this end, the output clock for outputting the samples is led to the digital-to-analog converter 160.

The power requirement of such a converter is advantageously particularly low, thus complying with the use in remote-supply field devices. 

1. An automation device comprising: a microcontroller, a memory unit having a sequential sequence of samples of a trapezoidal time profile consisting of four samples stored therein, at least one clock generator, and at least one data source which is adapted to output a data bit-stream, wherein the memory unit, the at least one clock generator, and the at least one data source are connected to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller causes all the samples to be successively read from the memory unit and output either at a first clock frequency or a second clock frequency, depending on the data bit-stream, and wherein a digital-to-analog converter converts the output into an analog signal that may be further modulated or filtered.
 2. The automation device of claim 1, wherein the at least one clock generator comprises a single clock generator, and wherein the first and second clock frequencies are derived from a clock of the clock generator.
 3. The automation device of claim 2, wherein the first and second clock frequencies are derived from the clock using first and second dividers, respectfully.
 4. The automation device of claim 1, wherein the automation device further comprises a data source and a data sink.
 5. The automation device of claim 4, wherein the data source comprises a configurable sensor for converting a physical variable into an electrical variable, and wherein the data sink comprises a configuration of the sensor.
 6. The automation device of claim 4, wherein the data sink comprises an actuator for converting an electrical variable into a physical variable whose properties can be diagnosed, and wherein the data source comprises a diagnostic device for diagnosing the physical variable. 